Electrical connectors



April 20, 1965 s. l.. KLAssEN ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27, 1962 NE m SN M w. KN L. M H y T S April 20, 1965 s. L. KLAssEN ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27. 1962 STEPHEN L. KLAss/v IN VEN TOR. W

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United States Patent O 3,179,915 ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Stephen I.. Klassen, Saddle Brook, NJ., assigner to rIhermo Electric Co., Inc., Saddle Brook, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 226,556 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-126) This invention relates to electrical connectors of the plug-jack class and more particularly to a connector jack of novel construction Iaffording economy of manufacture and improved facility Aof use.

Although `an electrical -jack made in accordance with this inven-tion is of general utility in the electrical field, it will be described `specilically with reference to the eld of temperature measurements utilizing thermocouples.

Temperature measuring and/.or control apparatus often utilizes a plurality of thermocouples which are located at points remote from the apparatus. In order to facilitate `the connection of individual thermocoup-les into the circuit and/ or the replacement of the individual thermocouples, it is customary to provide ya plug-jack connector in each pair of thermocouple leads. Generally, a plurality of such jacks are mounted on the apparatus, as on a central panel, and the thermocoupleleads are connected 4the-reto by means of cooperating plugs. Heretofore, the jacks, `as well as the plugs, have been made as completely assembled units. yIn consequence, the mounting of the jacks, on a panel, particularly a metal panel, requires the use of special mounting brackets, or other separate components, which is attended by a certain amount of inconvenience on the part of the user and, also, increased cost. Once the jacks are mounted on a panel, presently-available mounting arrangements do not readily lend themselves to changing the relative positions of the jacks o-r to adding additional jacks as may be required.

An object of this invention is the provision of a connector jack which is of simple construct-ion, economical to manufacture and which lends itself to convenient mounting on a panel.

An object of this invention is the provision of a connector jack wherein the housing consists of two similar sections, each section being provided wi-th integral, cooperating means for mounting the jack on a panel and for simultaneously retaining the housing sections in fixed, assembled relationship.

An object of this invention is the provision of an assembly of connector jacks wherein the housing of each jack comprises two similar sections having integr-al mating collars extending from opposite ends thereof and wherein the housing sections are removably retained between spaced plates provided with aligned openings lfor accommodating 4the housing collars thereby to retain the housing sections of each jack in assembled opera-tive condition and the individual jacks spaced a predetermined distance from each other.

rPhe-se and lother objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention when .taken with the accompanying drawings. vIt will be understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as defining the scope or limits of the invention, reference being had yfor the latter purpose to the claims appended hereto.

`In `the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded, isometric View showing the components of a connector jack made in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric View :showing the assembled jack;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view, with portions broken "ice away, `showing a plurality of jacks retained in operative position between spaced panel members;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric View of the .assembly taken from another angle; and

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the assembly including a cooperating connector plug.

Reference, now, is made to FIGURES 1 and 2. The housing of lthe connector jack made in accordance with this invention comprises two identical 'sections 10, 10' molded .of a suitable plastic having spaced longitudinallyextending channels 11, 12 formed therein tor accommodating the metal contact members lf3, 13'. Each contact member is a rod having a bore 14, (14') formed in the lforward end for receiving the cooperating contact pins of a connector plug. The opposite end of each contact mem-ber is milled iiat and carries a screw 15 (15') -for attachment of an electrical lead wire thereto. Each contact member further includes a circumferential groove 16 (16), and a iiat leaf spring 17 (17') having one end secured to the connector by a rivet `18 (18'). The 4free end of each leaf spring encircles a pin 19 (19') Whose surface yextends `somewhat into the bore 14 (14'). Such pin is adapted to fall into a circumferential groove formed in the contact pin of the cooperating plug, see FIGURE 5, thereby to retain the plug iirmly engaged with the jack and toassure a good electrical contact between the pins and the contact members of the jack.

The construction of the contact members 13, 13' forms no part of the present invention. Itis pointed out, however, that the longitudinal grooves formed in the housing sections 1li, 1li' are of appropriate conguration to snugly receive the contact members and to restrain the contact members against longitudinal and angular displacement when the housing sections are assembled together as shown specifically in FIGURE 2.

Each housing section includes an integral, upstanding locating pin 2t), 20' and a corresponding locating hole 21, 21', it being apparent that the locating pin of one housing section is positioned within the locating hole of the other housing section when the two sections are properly assembled. Further, each housing section includes integral, projecting ends, or collars, 23, 24 and 23', 24' of reduced cross-sectional area, thereby providing the monoplanar shoulders 25, 26 and 25', 26.

Reference, now, is made to FIGURES 3-5, wherein there is shown a front plate 27 (constituting a panel provided with mounting holes 28) and a rear, U-shaped plate 3l). Each plate is provided with uniformly-spaced, aligned, generally-oblong openings 31, 32, which openings are designed to receive the similarly-shaped, projecting collars of the connector jack housing sections. Each plate rests upon the shoulders formed on the corresponding end of the jack housing sections and the plates are secured together by means of screws 33 and cooperating nuts 34, the screw heads being iiush with the outer panel surface. As a safety feature, the plate 27 preferably has a thickness such that the collars of the jack housing sections extend beyond the front surface of the plate. Also, the plug receiving ends of the jack contact members are recessed from the adjacent housing collar ends. Such arrangement reduces to a minimum the possibility of inadvertent short-circuiting or grounding of the contact pins of the plug as the latter is inserted into or withdrawn from the jack. Also, in the case wherein the jacks are connected to a relatively high voltage, the electric shock hazard similarly is reduced to a minimum. The rear plate 30 may be relatively thin affording maximum access to the fastening screws carried by the protruding ends of the jack contact members. With the base of the rear plate snugly encompassing the jack housings and a moderate pressure applied to the two plates by the screws 33 P and nuts 34, there results a rigid assembly wherein the two housing sections of each jack are retained in fixed, assembled relation and the several jacks are retained in fixed, spaced positions.

Although the described construction of the jack housing sections is adapted primarily for the described insert-type of panel mounting, the two housing sections of a single jack can be retained in assembled relation by means of two, flat, metal bands forced over the projecting housing collars. Further, it will be apparent that one or more jacks can be mounted on an existing panel by forming appropriate openings in such panel and attaching thereto a rear plate made as herein described and of proper length. In fact, the rear plate can be supplied in standard lengths which the user readily can cut to desired length.

The described jack housing is economical to produce (since the two housing sections are identical) and is easy to assemble (since there are no screws required). The individual housing sections can be molded of different colored plastic materials for color coding purposes. For example, a housing made of a white and a yellow section would identify an iron-constantan thermocouple, a housing made of a white and a blue section would identify an iron-chromel thermocouple, etc. It will further be apparent that the two contact members of the jack preferably are made of the same material as the particular thermocouple to be connected thereto, thereby eliminating spurious eects arising by reason of temperature gradients.

Having now described the invention, those skilled in this art will be able to make various changes and modifications to meet specific requirements. It is intended that such changes and modifications shall fall Within the scope and spirit of the invention as recited in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A connector jack assembly comprising,

(a) a pair of spaced plates having aligned openings formed therein of a given configuration,

(b) a jack having a housing of insulating material,

which housing comprises-a central body portion terminating in integral, collar portions extending from opposite ends thereof, said collar portions having external surface configurations corresponding to the given configurations of the said openings, one collar portion extending into `an opening in one plate and the other collar portion extending into the aligned opening in the other plate, and

(c) means securing the plates together with each plate abutting the proximate surface of the central body portion ofthe housing and one of said plates having spaced arms partially overlying said central body portion.

2. A connector jack assembly comprising,

(a) a pair of identical housing sections made of insulating material and having spaced, longitudinal channels extending therethrough, each housing section comprising a central body portion terminating in longitudinal collar portions extending from opposite ends thereof, said collar portions having outer surfaces recessed from those of the central body portion thereby forming parallel shoulders lying in spaced planes normal to the channels,

(b) a pair of electrical contact members disposed within the channels which supplement one another and together house said members when the housing sections are assembled together, one end of each contact member projecting beyond the housing sections for connection to a lead wire and the other end being recessed from the adjacent collar end and provided with an axial bore to receive a plug connector,

(c) a pair of spaced plates provided with aligned openings of a configuration corresponding to the mated collar portions of the housing sections, one plate abutting one of the housing shoulders when the housing collar portions are confined within the plate opening, and the other plate similarly abutting the other housing shoulders when the corresponding collar portions are confined within the plate opening, and

(d) means securing the plates together with each plate abutting the corresponding housing shoulder.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein the one plate has a thickness less than the axial length of the corresponding housing collar portions.

4. A connector jack assembly comprising,

(a) a pair of identical housing sections made of insulating material and having spaced, longitudinal channels extending therethrough, each housing section comprising a central body portion terminating in longitudinal collar portions extending from opposite ends thereof, said collar portions having outer surfaces recessed from those of the central body portion thereby forming parallel shoulders lying in spaced planes normal to the channels,

(b) a pair of electrical contact members disposed within the channels when the housing sections are assembled together, one end of each contact member projecting beyond the housing sections for connection to a lead wire and the other end being recessed from the adjacent collar end and provided with an axial bore to receive a plug connector,

(c) a pair of spaced plates provided with aligned openings of a configuration corresponding to the mated collar portions of the housing sections, one plate abutting one of the housing shoulders when the housing collar portions are confined within the plate opening, and the other plate similarly abutting the other housing shoulders when the corresponding collar portions are confined within the plate opening,

(d) means securing the plates together with each plate abutting the corresponding housing shoulder,

(e) the one plate having a thickness less than the axial length of the corresponding housing collar portions, and

(f) the other plate being U-shaped with spaced arms partially overlying the central body portions of the housing sections.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 842,020 1/07 Salisbury 339-126 1,674,253 6/28 Lightfoot 339-208 2,079,800 5/ 37 Grant 339-208 X 2,090,761 8/ 37 Lewyt 339-255 X 2,158,922 5/ 39 Barnitz 339-208 2,453,014 11/ 48 Jackson 339-132 2,454,173 11/48 Hicks 339-126 2,823,364 2/58 Walter 339-208 X FOREIGN PATENTS 70,508 10/ 15 Switzerland. 51,972 7/ 36 Denmark. 1,236,650 6/ 60 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Cannon Electric Temporary Bulletin, .T an. 1945, Specifications of Type GB-3-21CFS-Plug, page 24F, copy in Group 350.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Prmtary Examiner. 

1. A CONNECTOR JACK ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, (A) A PAIR OF SPACED PLATES HAVING ALIGNED OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN OF A GIVEN CONFIGURATION, (B) A JACK HAVING A HOUSING OF INSULATING MATERIAL, WHICH HOUSING COMPRISES A CENTRAL BODY PORTION TERMINATING IN INTEGRAL, COLLAR PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, SAID COLLAR PORTIONS HAVING EXTERNAL SURFACE CONFIGURATIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE GIVEN CONFIGURATIONS OF THE SAID OPENINGS, ONE COLLAR PORTION EXTENDING INTO AN OPENING IN ONE PLATE AND THE OTHER COLLAR PORTION EXTENDING INTO THE ALIGNED OPENING IN THE OTHER PLATES, AND (C) MEANS SECURING THE PLATES TOGETHER WITH EACH PLATE ABUTTING THE PROXIMATE SURFACE OF THE CENTRAL BODY PORTION OF THE HOUSING AND ONE OF SAID PLATES HAVING SPACED ARMS PARTIALLY OVERLYING SAID CENTRAL BODY PORTION. 